New item has arrived, expats coming from Gulf can bring halal 'bottles'

ABU DHABI: A newly introduced alcoholic drink in the UAE has been certified halal. The new drink is inspired by an ancient Arabian drink and Igor Sergun, a Russian expatriate in Dubai, is the innovator behind it. The drink, named 'Majlis', is developed by Midtown Factory.

Igor, who is also the CEO of Midtown Factory, said people in the Arabian Peninsula brewed Majlis a thousand years ago, which is non-alcoholic and believed to help with digestion. It took three to four days to brew it. This drink was mostly consumed by travelers as it kept their energy levels up for a long time.

Although traditional method is used to brew Majlis, yeast is controlled to ensure the drink remains halal. The ingredients used to brew Majlis are malt, water, yeast, and hops which together produce essential vitamins like B1, B6, B15, C, and D. Moreover, only natural sweeteners are used in Majlis. Igar also clarified that they will ensure that all their products are halal. The company said Majlis received the halal certificate after various tests. The company also informed that Majlis is available in five flavors.